Jamaica Featured in Round the World Yacht Race

Jamaica will once again feature in the Clipper Round the World Race, which got underway on Sunday, September 1, from London’s St. Katharine Docks.

For the third year, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has sponsored one of the 12, 70-foot racing yachts competing in the event.

High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Her Excellency Aloun Ndombet Assamba, christened the vessel ‘Jamaica Get All Right’, at the official launch last Thursday, August  29.

The High Commissioner Ndombet Assamba and the founder and chairman of the Clipper Race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, were joined by Jamaican-born entrepreneur, chef and television personality, Levi Roots, at the launch.

The High Commissioner said that she was pleased that Jamaica would once again be featured in the race, which for the third time, will stop at the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio.

“Jamaicans love a challenge. It doesn’t matter whether it is on the sports field or in business, Jamaicans love to rise to the occasion and give it their best shot. This year’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will provide an opportunity to surprise the world again, with our passion for competition and our determination. The crew have not only been trained to endure the challenges of round the world sailing, they have been trained in how to be Jamaican,” she said.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said that “Jamaica has always been one of the most popular locations among our crew. The Jamaica Get All Right crew are extremely proud to be representing Jamaica and I know they will do their very best to represent such a beautiful country.”

The 35-member crew was hosted at a reception/workshop by the JTB where a specially commissioned cake in the shape of a racing yacht was cut. The cake was made and designed by a team from the Brixton Cake shop in London.

The Clipper 13-14 Race is a 40,000-mile journey around the globe, making it the world’s longest ocean race, stopping at 15 ports on six continents over 11 months. This is the only race in the world where the organisers supply the fleet of 12 identical, 70-foot, stripped down racing yachts – each sponsored by a city, a region or a country.